TheSamba.com :: View topic - Trying to register a 1980 VW caddy in CA

Thu Sep 18, 2014 5:08 pm

My husband purchased a 1980 VW caddy in Idaho last year. He has spent the last year re-doing the entire car, and putting in an engine from a 1996 Golf.

Well, now he is done, and he is going to the East Coast in about a week for a job. He plans on driving the truck out there (he would have gone earlier if it were not for finishing the truck). Currently, he has an temporary California plate on the truck that expires on 10/4.

So, he made the appointment at the referee. He failed because of the type of catalytic converter, and another airflow problem. Also, the VIN

He has taken care of the catalytic converter and the airflow. The VIN however is an issue.

He has the plate on the dashboard, but there doesn't seem to be any other VIN on the car. The one on the sticker on the doorjamb is so faded from age, you can barely read it. You can, if you look at a certain angle, but you know that they won't do that.

So, without another VIN, they won't pass the referee. He was told to go to CHP, but there are no appointments until October, and he won't be here.

Are there any other locations that the Vin would be? There is also no VIN in the rain pan under the hood.

Any other solutions? Has anyone ever had to deal with this before?

Thanks in advance.

Fri Sep 19, 2014 6:06 am

Long shots, but try the passenger strut tower or if there is one, the paint code sticker in the trunk.

Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:11 am

It was on the strut tower. Crisis averted!

Thank you!

Wed Sep 24, 2014 12:20 pm

Inspector should have known that there is 4+ VIN at various locations.

I don't know for such an old car, but you can get replacement VIN stickers from the dealer.

Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:19 am

had similar problem few years ago w 80 caddy. vin is stamped in strut tower. !980 had shorter vins than later vws. Dmv records don't go back that far.